Tow bar



F. S. RETTINGER Nov. 20, 1951 TOW BAR 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Dec. 6, 1948 Nov. 20, 1951 F. s. RETTINGER 2,575,596

` Tow BAR Filed Dec. e, 1948 2 sHEETs-SHEET 2 A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1951 TOW BAR Frederick S. Rettinger, Battle Creek, Mich., as-

signor to Caro Manufacturing Co., Caro, Mich.

application December 6, 1948, serial No. 63,660 6 claims. (c1. 28o-36.14)

This invention relates to tow bars such as utilized to couple a trailer or other vehicle to the bumper of an automobile.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a relatively simple, practical, and substantial tow bar which can be easily and quickly connected to and/or disconnected from the bumpers of vehicles, so that only the driver will be needed to conveniently tow a vehicle.

Another object is to provide a tow bar provided with coupling heads, and iiexible means for ready adjustment to the bumpers of a vehicle, and provide means for tensioning said flexible means for securing it in adjusted position.

A further object is to design an attachment tow bar which is adjustable to fit bumpers of various sizes, widths, and shapes, and which permits of universal movement in any direction, to the end that the towed vehicle may ride over rough roads and terrain without binding, clamping, or otherwise interfering with the conventional operation of the vehicle.

Still a further object is to provide a coupling means including link chains or flexible means engageable with the bumpers, together with releasable dogsY associated therewith for engaging and securing said chains in set position.

A further object still is to provide a-tow bar including means fol` limiting the swinging action of the coupling heads with relation to the bar.

Still a further object is to provide a draft bar so designed that it can be readily connected and/or disconnected without the use of special tools, and without boring holes in or otherwise defacing the bumper.

A further object still is to provide a tow bar composed of relatively few parts all of which are of simple, sturdy construction, and which can be readily manufactured and assembled.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then consists of the means hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the annexed drawings and following description setting forth, in detail, certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and mode illustrating, however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of my tow bar showing it attached to the bumpers which are shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a top, plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the coupling head taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse-sectional view of the coupling head and bar.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, part-sectional, side view of one of the side plates, illustrating the dog in engagement with one of the chain links. J

Referring now more specically to the drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the letter A indicates a preferably pressed steel plate housing or.cou pling element formed with front and side Walls I0, II and I2 respectively, with a yoke section I3 formed integral therewith and proiectingupwardly therefrom.

The side walls II and I2 of the housing A project rearwardly as shown, and a horizontally disposed pin I4 spans said walls, the closed end of a clevis member I6 being revolvably connected to said pin and is provided with laterallypro'- jecting ears or stops I'I which engage cut-out-sectors I8 provided in the ends of the side plates to limit the pivotal movement of the housing with relation thereto.

The open end of the clevis extends rearwardly as shown and is spread to accommodate a bar section which'forms a, part of the draw bar D, and a pin 20 serves to connect the open end of the clevis thereto, the enlarged shouldered end v2| of the bar section being accommodated in va sleeve 22, and a pin 23 serves to secure it in posi-,- tion, the closed end of the clevis I6 providing pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, while the pin 20 provides for movement in a vertical plane.

The main section 24 of the draw bar D is mounted in the opposite end of the sleeve 22, the end being shouldered as at 25 to provide a substantial, revolvable connection thereat. A similar coupling element or housing assembly H is connected to the opposite end of the draw bar 24, and laterally projecting stops 26 are formed thereon to engage cut-out sectors 21 provided in the side plate in substantially the same manner as previously described, and for the same purpose.

A vertically adjustable U-shaped bracket 23 is mounted in the housing A, and a threaded bolt 29 extends therethrough and through the yoke section I3, the head of the bolt bearing against the bracket 28, and a nut 30 is provided on the upper end of said bolt, with a laterally extending handle 3| provided on the nut for easy manipulation thereof. y

vertically disposed pins 32 and 33 span the de pending legs of the bracket 28, and rollers 34 and 35 are revolvably mounted thereon, a laterally projecting bill-shaped dog Y3Ii being formed on the roller 35 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and an upwardly extending arm 31 is provided for easy and convenient manipulation of said dog. n

A roller chain C is threaded through the space between the rollers 34 and 35 and a hook-shaped link L is provided on the one end as shown, for

releasable engagement with the lower edge of a conventional automobile bumper B.

A ringispresided on the free `l endof the chain C and presents an easy :nger hold for drawing the chain taut after it has been attached to the bumper, and the dog 36 is then swung down into engagement with one of the chain links for securing the chain in position.

Laterally projecting, vertically. spaced bolts.3.9

and 4U are mounted on the side wallsdfxthelhousi.

and chains E and F are V`accomrriodatedbetween 'therollers 43 and M, and hook-shaped :links 'L are provided on the Aends thereof for engagement with the upper edge ,of fthefbumperB, and a ring "38iisprovided on the free end of each chain for drawing the chains ,taut after they have been attached, .after vwhich the dogs 36 are swung down into interlocking engagement with'the chains.

'When 'it is desired to attach the tow bar to the 'bumper vof avehicle, thehandlefl is first manipulated to lower the bracket :38 and provide ample slack in the chains; the vhook-shaped linksL are then hooked tothe uppeffand lower edges offthe "bumper, after which :the operator grasps the rings 38 to .pull the chains taut, and the ,dogs 36 .are then swung downwardly into engagement with the chainsjlohold themtaut. I

Obviously, there will stllbe slack 'inthe chains and vthis is taken up b y manipulation `of the handie A3l to draw the' bracket 23 upwardly, `thus tightening the chains and ,tensioning the lentire assembly, so thatgthe hook links L are rxnly secured inthe bumper B. The stops "ll and 2B Aare accommodated in the sectors I8 and 2l and provide for limited swinging movement of each housing assembly with relation to the draw bar, and the entire structure/has the necessary ilexi- 'biI-ityto compensate for relativemovement ofthe `vvehicleswhen traveling over rough terrain,'turn ingcorners, or other conventional operation.

'iRelease fis Veiiecte'dby merelyiturning the han- .31 'ato Tlower .fthe Ibracket 128 to `'the point where .the dogs canbe swung upwardly, andthe `hookshaped links disengaged.

VThe deviceiis simple,'practicalmuggedand economical, and can be very easily and quickly .at-

tachedand/ordetached.

from the foregoing description, fit will beobvi- Lous that I have yperfected a very simple, Yprac.- .tical tow bar :for attaching `and ,towing vehicles of ,all kinds.

What I `claim 11s:

.1, A towing deviceof the Vclassdescribed, comprising a coupling head adapted to 'be -secured t `an -automobile bumper, ,a vertically adjustable :lil-shaped bracket mounted on said head, .a chain accommodating `passage therein, a 'dexible chain `.threaded Atherethrough and detachably .secured :to the iower edge .of fthe bumper, similar chain acuommodating passages ,provided on the side wal-ls of the coupling Snead, chains leading ,therethrough and detachably secured to .the upper ledge of .the bumper, and means Ier vertically adjusting said bracket to tension-saidchains.`

2. A towing device of the character described comprising, a coupling head adapted to he secured toanautomobile bumper, said head having Va vertically fadjustablebracket member adjustably supported in said -head, spaced-apart, horizontal pins in said bracket, rollers journaled Von said pins and forming a chain passage therebetween, a chain threaded through said passage and releasably connected to the bottom edge of a ;bump,er,a;dog-provided on one of said rollers and releasa-bly engageable with a selected link of the -chainffor `securing `it in adjusted position, similarly formed chain passages provided on the side walls of lthe head element, chains leading therethrough and releasably connected to the upper edge lor the bumper, and means V.for :adjusting fsaid lbracket to tension said .chains 3. The combination .set .fforth fin claim 2 in .which cut-out sectors .are provided -in fthe :head Yand stops :on said'sectorsorflimiting the pivotal vmovement of a draw bar V`with relation 'to :said zhead.

4. Thefcombination denedfinclaim-Z in which the coupling head icomprises front and sidewalls,

f .a yoke-shaped section `formed integral therewith,

a bracket suspended in said head, adjusting means :extending through said uyoke yand :convnested to said bracket, and sa handle vforactuating said adjusting means.

l5. A towing device of the class :described comprising a coupling head adapted -to -be secured Yto an automobile bumper, a verticallyvadjustable fU -shaped bracket mounted'onsaid ihead, achainaccommodating passage therein, frevoluble mem- .bers forming 'the upper and lower walls of Asaid passage, ka flexible chain `tlnteaded through said passage and detachably secured Vto `the A loweredge of the bumper, -a laterallyprojecting dog on one of said members for releasable `,eng-agement with one of the `links of the chain, similar ...chainaccommodating passages provided on the vside walls of thecoupling head, chains leading .therethrough and detachably :secured ,to the supper edge of the bumper, and .means for vertical-lyadjusting Ysaid bracket to tensionsaid chains.

-6. A towing device :of the classdescribed :comprising Va coupling head adapted to Ibe secured fto an automobile bumper, said .headcomprising a rpressed plate housing having .an upwardly projecting yoke section formed integral therewith, va vertically adjustable U-shaped bracketfmounted on said Ahead, a chain-accommodating ,passage therein, va threaded .adjustable member .extending through `said yoke section .and kon Vwhich the adjustable bracket is carried, .similar chain-accommodating passages 'providedon the .side walls of thecoupling head, chains leading therethrough and detachably secured to -the Vupper ,edge .of .the bumper, and means for `vertically adjusting lsaid bracket Ato tension said chains.

FREDERICK S. RETTINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The Vfollowing references are of record in the 'file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

